In Pictures: Indian Cinema centenary celebrations

The four-day celebration (Sep 21-24) to mark the centenary of Indian cinema jointly organised by the Tamil Nadu government and the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce, kicked off in style.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who inaugurated the function said cinema remained at the zenith of all achievements made by the human civilization.

Jayalalithaa said that TN has been a land of growth for those who come here and excel in cinema. Jayalalithaa added: "It is because those who are associated with the industry practise the virtue of live and let live."

The Chief Minister elaborated: "The Tamil film industry which was in the clutches of a family has been functioning independently for the last two years, under the AIADMK rule. Those who were trying to monopolise the film industry fell due to their own attitude."

Jayalalithaa also distributed bioscopes as mementos to 59 people who had left a mark in their respective fields in the industry. The recipients included actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar, Vivek, SS Rajendran, Saroja Devi, Sowcar Janaki, Kanchana, Manorama, Simran, Meena, Trisha music director Ilayaraja, producers AVM Saravanan, Abirami Ramanathan and others.